The Curse of Capistrano ( The Mark of Zorro) by Johnston McCulley

The story follows the story of Californio Don Diego Vega—Zorro in the company of his deaf and mute servant Bernardo and his lover Lolita Pulido, as they rival the antagonists Captain Ramon and Sgt. Gonzales in Alta California, the Mexican era (1823–1846) pre-U.S. state of California. It is set amongst the historic Missions, pueblos (towns) such as San Juan Capistrano, Spanish ranchos, and the rural California countryside